Police Training Is Key

OPINION - Reader Views

June 2, 2002

I read the May 19 Sentinel article, "Towns rethink police forces."

You are writing about a subject very dear to me. You are correct in that having a police department is expensive.

It is not uncommon for small agencies, because of budget constraints, to hire some officers who are not the best available applicants, or who have had some behavior, performance, conduct problems at the prior agency.

I have seen this happen so often it just makes me sick. Yet, I must say that some small agencies have some of the finest law-enforcement officers I have ever met.

Training is an expensive item. I believe you must have well-trained officers who are supervised by professional managers. Anything less and you will have problems.